Crossfire - Hate is Like a Loaded Gun!

Crossfire
Robert Young, Robert Mitchum, Robert Ryan, Gloria Grahame
Directed by Edward Dmytryk
IMDB: 7.5/10
Netflix: 3.4 stars
1947

Based on the novel The Brick Foxhole by Richard Brooks, Crossfire tells the story of four G.I.'s suspected of murdering a Jewish man. The motive being racism, Police Capt. Finlay, with the help of Army Sgt. Keeley, conducts an investigation into which one of the four soldiers committed the crime. Crossfire was one of RKO Studios first films to address the issue of anti-semitism in a hard-boiled, detective film noir style. The film was nominated for five Academy Awards including, Robert Ryan for best supporting actor and Gloria Grahame for best supporting actress. A+


In this scene Capt. Finlay (Robert Young) questions suspect Montogomery (Robert Ryan).

Happy Birthday Jesus!

They Call Me Trinity - With So Many Editions of This Movie on DVD Which One Should you Buy?

They Call Me Trinity
Starring: Terence Hill, Bud Spencer
Directed by Enzo Barboni
English Dubbed
IMDB: 7.2/10
Netflix: 3.6 Stars
1971

They Call Me Trinity is a 1971 Italian comedy spaghetti western classic which launched it's two main stars, Terence Hill and Bud Spencer to international superstardom. Terence Hill plays charismatic, grimy, trim, gun-slinging Trinity, while Bud Spencer plays burly, grubby, cantankerous Bambino
(baby), Trinity's brother. The movie is about the two brothers forming an alliance to help defend a group of pacifist Mormon farmers who are being driven off their land by a cattle baron. The film was a huge success worldwide, but today finds itself in the public domain. Many poor quality DVDs of this movie exist. With so many copies of this movie on DVD which one should you buy? In Amazon's movie section, I found thirteen different DVD manufacturers selling the film.

The Bad
Amazon users rate the movie five stars but the quality of the DVD one star, because almost all public domain movies are nothing more than VHS transfers to DVD. Their tactics in marketing vary, some will sell just the movie as a standalone and others will package it with the sequel "Trinity's Still My Name". The one that I bought was a "two movies on one disc" deal, released by Quality Special Products, that was nothing more than pan & scan, with horrendous picture quality. A lot of these DVDs have been discontinued by amazon but continue to be sold online, new and used.

The Deceptive
Some DVDs online are deceptive, they will have nice artwork on the cover, digitally remastered, with a header at the top of the box that say's things like, "Treasure Box Collection" and "Digital Gold Collection".  These copies of the movie are also just VHS transfers on DVD. These movies have also been discontinued by amazon, but keep being sold online, one seller is offering it as a "Collectors Edition" for $99.00.

The Good
Henstooth Video in 2007 released the best copy, they teamed with the film producer's estate and digitally remastered the original negative to DVD. Presented in widescreen, the DVD includes the original theatrical trailer and a photo gallery. This by far is the best copy of the film I have seen.

If you have a region free DVD player and don't mind spending a few extra dollars, Amazon UK has both Trinity films for sale. Released by Nouveaux Pictures, released in 2003, this region 2, widescreen version is digitally remastered. Included as extras are recent interviews with Bud Spencer and Terence Hill, and a photo gallery of lobby cards.

With so many copies available, your best bet is to purchase the Henstooth Video release for $18.00, the discontinued versions are shabby copies selling anywhere from $7.00 to $35.00 and up. The region 2 version is a little more expensive at $22.00, but this copy was digitally remastered in 2003, while the picture quality is probably good, it is probably not as good as the 2007 Henstooth release.

Commandos Strike at Dawn - WW2 Propaganda Film

    

Commandos Strike at Dawn

Starring: Paul Muni, Anna Lee

Directed by John Farrow

IMDB: 6.7/10

Netflix: 3.1 Stars

1943

Commandos Strike at Dawn was one of the rare propaganda films released by Columbia Pictures that gave American movie going audiences during WW2 a glimpse of what it was like for Europeans to live under Nazi oppression. The story takes place in a small fishing village in Norway in the summer 1939, but could have taken place anywhere in the northern hemisphere that the third reich decided to fly it's flag. Paul Muni plays mild mannered, passive widower Eric Toresen who falls in love with a British woman named Judith Bowen (played by Anna Lee), who is vacationing in Norway with her father Admiral Bowen. When Admiral Bowen and Judith travel back to England, World War 2 starts and the village becomes invaded by Nazis. The Germans announce that they are their to protect Norway from England and then slowly start to take away the rights of the Norwegian citizens, they confiscate all radios, all blankets and then impose a curfew of 6:30 PM, anyone seen outside after the curfew will be shot on sight. They arrest people that disagree with them and shoot them, Eric suddenly realizes that he can no longer be passive and forms an underground resistance movement. After various acts of sabotage  Eric is wanted by the Germans after he kills a high ranking Colonel.  Eric hides his daughter with a trusted friend. While hiding in the woods he comes across a secret airfield the Germans are building and overhears two German soldiers say it will occupy many planes and a German General is coming. Eric travels to England where he meets up with Judith and her father and informs them of this airfield and vows to show them it's location. Eric returns to Norway with a ship full of British commandos, they raid and destroy the german airfield and then rescue the villagers (including his daughter) who are being held hostage by the nazis taking them all back to England.

Commandos Strike at Dawn was released one month after the attack on Pearl Harbor and was one of many propaganda films that prepared America for it's entry into WW2. It was one of the few propaganda war films that had excellent acting, dialogue and storyline. B+

Commandos Strike at Dawn Movie Trailer. All action!

Bigger Than Life - A Cautionary Tale of Miracle Drugs and Abuse set in 1950s Suburban America

Bigger Than Life
James Mason, Barbara Rush, Walter Matthau,Christopher Olsen
Directed By Nicholas Ray
IMDB: 7.5/10
1956

James Mason plays family man and schoolteacher Ed Avery, who gets afflicted with a life threatening disease and is prescribed the "miracle drug" Cortisone, allowing him to make an extraordinary recovery. In order to stop him from getting ill he must continue to take the tablets, which he starts to abuse, causing his personality to change and mood swings.

Barbara Rush plays Lou Avery, Ed's wife who under tremendous stress works hard to keep the family together, scared and worried about Ed's mood swings, she is unaware that Ed is abusing the cortisone tablets.

Walter Matthau plays P.E. teacher Wally Gibb, Ed's best friend, concerned about his sudden personality change and mood swings. Wally helps the family and watches out for Lou and Richie.

Christopher Olsen plays Richie Avery, Ed's son who doesn't understand why his father is being so mean to him all of a sudden. Richie starts to resent his father.

When Bigger Than Life was first released in 1956 it failed at the box office. America in the 1950s was not ready, nor did they understand drug addiction, especially addiction in the suburbs. This movie is before it's time talking about new cures and the consequences that come with it. The movie shows the white picket fences, fresh milk on the doorsteps of tree lined residential streets. This is the environment that Ed Avery hides his pill popping habit from his family, his job and friends. Slowly Ed starts to unravel becoming paranoid and accusing his wife Lou of betraying him and his "educational program" for their son Richie. The more cortisone Ed takes, the more he is convinced that everybody is against him, he starts hallucinating and starts to attack his family until Wally Gibb arrives and wrestles him down to the ground (after all he's the P.E. teacher and coach) until the ambulance arrives.

In the hospital Ed doesn't remember a thing, the family is glad to have the "old Ed" back and the doctors warn Ed not to abuse cortisone again, asking Lou to be in charge of his medicine. The one thing I learned watching this movie is that the idea of "cure alls" can lead to irresponsibility.  A++


In this scene from Bigger Than Life, Ed casts a dark shadow over his son and then goes completly psycho at the family dinner table.

Miranda - A Charming Mermaid British Movie

Miranda

Starring: Gynis Johns, Griffith Jones, Googie Withers

Directed by Ken Annakin

Released: 1948

IMDB: 6.4/10

I love the way the British make Mermaid movies.

The gentlemanly Dr. Paul Martin, out on a fishing trip, "A bachelor holiday" enjoying so time away from his wife.

The opera singing, vogue reading mermaid Miranda, who's loneliness compels her to catch Paul's fishing line, pulls him into the sea and takes him back to her cave.

Paul's curious wife Clare, who suspects something is fishy about Miranda when Paul brings her home as a "wheeled chaired patient".

The not receptive to new or unusual ideas and behaviors, but manages to keep his decorum butler, Charles. Who raises an eyebrow to Miranda's choice of food – raw fish and notes how her body temperature is cold, then gets seduced by her.

Nurse Carey, the eccentric nurse, hired to take care of Miranda, who when told that she is a mermaid by Dr. Martin, rejoices and exclaims, "I knew mermaids were real"

Betty the maid, who is jealous of Miranda and the obsession Charles, her boyfriend has on her. 

And of course Isabel and Manell, the Martins friends who find the raw fish sandwich eating, salt water drinking, fashionably dressed mermaid charming. 

And of course the happy go lucky conflict that moves the plot along.

After Paul is caught by Miranda and taken to her cave the only way she'll agree to let him go is if he takes her with him. Miranda wants to see London, wear fashionable dresses she see's in Vogue and go to the Opera. Once in London she began's to systematically tempt and develops a fondness for every man she meets starting with Charles the butler, Manell and anybody that say's her name "Miranda" with passion. After luring man after man and making all the women in the movie jealous, Miranda realizes she can't live with humans and that the sea is where she belongs.

And it's a good thing as the fish tank in the house was missing fish – the suspect Miranda. How many guests do you know sleep in cold-water filled bathtubs at night? This movie reminded me of the 80's film Splash, the only difference is Tom Hanks chases after Daryl Hannah where as Miranda chases after everybody. I liked this movie because it didn't take itself to seriously and could make fun of itself. I give this movie a B+.

In this youtube clip, Miranda meets some sea-lions and then steals some of their fish. Only in a mermaid movie.

Gold Diggers of 1933 - It's All About The Dames!

Gold Diggers of 1933

Starring: Joan Blondell, Dick Powell, Ruby Keeler, Ginger Rogers

Directed by Merlyn LeRoy

Songs by Al Rubin and Harry Warren

Choreography by Busby Berkeley

IMDB: 8.2/10

Netflix: 3.8 Stars

A depression era pre-code gem! This musical sets the standard for all other musicals preceding it. The story is pretty simple, it's about four unemployed broadway actresses during the depression looking to marry wealthy men. If I was an unemployed dame during the depression, I would do the same thing! I love this movie because these HOT gals walk around in night gowns and underwear and manage to look classy while doing it. I would like to see today's models do something like that. I think not!  Their are two reasons to watch this movie the dames and the musical numbers. The musical numbers are choreographed by Busby Berkeley and if their is one person who knows how to show off a dames gams in a musical number it's Busby Berkeley.

The Song "We're in the Money" and scantily-clad show showgirls dancing with giant coins is a good combination. Sung by Ginger Rogers the song is cut short when the sheriff shuts down the show for unpaid bills. Thus are story line is set up, our four young hopefuls Polly, Carol, Trixie and Fay can't pay the rent but meet Brad their unstuffy rich neighbor who longs to be in musicals but has to keep it secret from his stuffy rich family. You know, show business people and old money don't mix. However old money and charming dames do mix! Brad agrees to give the girls' cantankerous Broadway producer Barney Hopkins $5,000 to produce a musical on Broadway but makes him agree to keep it a secret. Brad doesn't reveal his wealthy background to the girls which make them think he's some kind of criminal. However that all changes when the star of the show can't perform on opening night and Brad is forced to take his place, creating positive newspaper reviews and Brad and Polly fall in love.

"Pettin' in the Park" sung by Ruby Keeler and Dick Powell, if this movie was made in the 1970s the song would be called "Pettin' at the Drive-in". Brad and Polly tap dance in a surreal number were the girls remove their wet clothes behind a screen revealing their silhouettes, wet and naked!  However Billy Barty playing a baby (that's what happens when your "pettin' in the park") pulls the screen up were the dames are dressed in metal attire, but Billy being a resourceful baby gives Brad a can opener.  Unfortunately all this fun attracts the attention of two sourpusses Brads brother, J. Lawrence Bradford and the family lawyer Fanuel H. Peabody who take it upon themselves to save Brad from being seduced by sin.

"Shadow Waltz" sung by Ruby Keeler and Dick Powell  is a dreamy number featuring neon tubed, glow in the dark violins (all waltzes should have violins) and choreography as only Busby Berkeley can do. This doesn't impress the sourpusses who go about their diabolical plot to break up Brad and Polly. They do this the way all wealthy people do things, they try to pay off Polly but instead make a mistake and pay off Carol instead. Those Gold Diggers are so hard to tell apart. Carol and Trixie play along with our sourpusses and decides to brighten up their day by giving them what they really need – female companionship. Carol and Trixie's counter plan works so well they get the sourpusses to buy them nice expensive clothes, hats, jewelry and perfume. The sourpusses discover "love is a many splendored thing" and Lawrence marries Carol, while Trixie ties the knot with Fanuel allowing Polly and Brad to get married. Everybody ends up married and happy except Fay, but she got to sing the song "We're in the Money" and even sings a verse in pig latin at the beginning of the movie so she shouldn't complain too much. 

"Remember My Forgotten Man" sung by Joan Blondell and Etta Moten is the finale of the movie, the song talks about World War 1 veterans and how the Federal government cut off their benefits during the great depression. The movie shows the parallels between soldiers marching off to war and those same soldiers standing in the breadlines years later. This number shows you how bad the great depression really was and how all facets of societies were affected. 

Special note: Etta Moten has a great soulful voice which will send chills down your spine when she sings "Remember My Forgotten Man" sitting on a window sill.

With unemployment at over 10% this is a great movie to slide into the DVD player and watch if your unemployed or underemployed. I think the government should set up movies theaters across the country, charge ten cents and show movies like "Gold Diggers of 1933". The movie is just that good. I give this movie A++. You can rent this movie from Netflix or better yet buy this movie from Amazon.

Gomorrah - A Real Italian Mafia Movie

Gomorrah

Starring: a bunch of Italian actors, who may have been in the Gomorrah for all I know.

IMDB Rating: 7.1/10

Netflix: 3.5 Stars

Gomorrah is about how a Mafia-like criminal organization and secret society has corrupted the cities of Naples and Casserta in present day Italy. It opens with the whacking of gangsters in a tanning saloon, in it's own special way the opening scene of the movie is intended to shock, kind of like the movie is saying "hi I'm gomorrah, welcome to my world" bang bang! This is one badass film! Directed by Matteo Garrone, based on a book by Roberto Saviano (who is now under police protection) the movie tells five stories about how the Gomorrah impacts the lives of Italian people.

• Don Ciro - Is the bagman for the organization delivering money to families who have gang members in prison. From the nervous way he approaches his job, somehow I get the feeling Don Ciro doesn't like his job, towards the end of the movie he has to wear a large bullet proof vest, I'll let you watch the movie to find out why

• Toto - No, not Dorothy's dog, but a 13-year old who go's from being a grocery delivery boy to a drug delivery boy for the local hoodlums. He gets a pay raise in the process, but I digress. To show his manliness or foolishness, (I'll let you decide) in order to be initiated into the gang he wears a bullet proof vest and takes a bullet to the chest. No harm to the boy just a bruise on the chest. Toto's new career in crime includes an act of revenge on a former friend. Personally I like Dorothy's dog better

• Roberto - A recent University graduate who go's to work for Franco his extremely corrupt boss in the waste management business. Franco does things like hire children to drive trucks, fucks up the environment and pisses off Al Gore. Towards the end of the movie Roberto can barely hide his absolute disgust with Franco. Nuff said.

• Pasquale - Pasquale or Senor Pasquale as his Chinese friends call him is a tailor who makes the mistake of training the Gomorrah's Chinese competition. He learns the hard way you don't do that.

• Marco and Ciro - A couple of gangster wannabes, who think all Mafia life is like the Hollywood movie Scarface, who thumb their noses at the real hoodlums by stealing drugs and guns from them and are welcomed into the gang or are they. Marco and Ciro should have checked their scripts and realized what movie they were in. I didn't see Tony Montana anywhere in this movie nor did I see Al Gore.

I like this movie and would recommend it because it gives you a slice of Italian life most people won't have the chance to see and only read about in books. You see how the mafia works in a real life setting, how all levels of society are corrupted. I give this movie an A+.

The film is available from the Criterion Collection and you can also rent it from Netflix. Here is some more information about the Camorra.